Tag Archives: Kingdom of God

At the conclusion of the movie “Bride of Frankenstein,” the movie sequel based on Mary’s Shelly’s book, “Frankenstein,” Frankenstein’s monster is emotionally devastated at the repugnant rejection of him by his so called, “bride to be.”

With tears in its eyes, the heartbroken monster starts to throw a tantrum, when it inadvertently and unknowingly stumbles across a lever that, if moved in the wrong position, could set off a chain reaction and destroy the entire laboratory, and everything and everyone in it, including itself.

In anticipation of this potential disaster, the evil scientist sternly warns the monster “not to pull the lever” in the hopes the monster might react rationally, and avoid the impending calamity.

Of course, sternly warning a monster of its moral obligation not to do something rash and immoral, immediately following a personally devastating emotional and psychological heartbreak and public humiliation is almost like inviting it, in fact, to “pull the lever.” That’s why they’re monsters! They generally don’t listen very well, especially when you tell them to do something right or not do something wrong.Continue reading →

“For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”

A few years ago, a college student was convicted of smuggling several thousand pounds of marijuana into the country. The student had created quite an effective system for procuring and distributing the marijuana. The judge who heard the case did not sentence the student to jail — instead, the student was sentenced to set up and run a hospice for AIDS patients. The logic? The city needed the hospice, and the convicted smuggler had the organizational and business savvy to make it happen.Continue reading →

If we refuse to be ruled by God and his laws, then God will allow us to be ruled by tyrants.

It is very difficult not to think about the evil in the world today. My wife Chris and I have spent the better part of the last 30 years talking about the evils of abortion. 9/11 bought a new form of terrorism into all of our lives. Often when I write of abortion, promiscuity, apathy, and the selfishness of the world I sometimes feel like the little brother who is pointing a finger at a sibling and crying out what he or she is doing wrong. I’ve even been told that I’m good at pointing out the problem, followed by “how about giving us some solutions.” In this article, once again, I will not be able to offer any solutions, but thanks to a recent homily by Pastor Timothy Barr we might have a better sense of direction. Continue reading →

“For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but [this poor widow] from her poverty …”

It was a beautiful wedding reception: a simple, elegant supper with music and dancing. But the bride and groom arranged with the caterer to pack up the leftover food and bring it to the local soup kitchen. The bride and groom included a cake and bottles of sparkling cider. The couple made places of welcome for the poor at their wedding banquet.

With their kids gone, they have more room than they can use. So when the church calls asking for a place for a woman going through a break-up or a couple visiting for a funeral or parents whose child is being treated at a nearby medical center, they welcome them into their home. Other empty-nesters in the parish have been inspired by their example. Continue reading →

Is this you? “I’m pro-life. I would never have an abortion. But I’m not an activist.” Well, I’m gladyou’reagainst child-killing. But it’s not enough to say you are against abortion. You must live what you believe. You may not be a hold-a-sign-and-engage-in-public-debate activist, but every Christian should take a stand against abortion. Call it activism, education or ministry, but when genocide is occurring in our nation, we must do more than identify with the opponents of it. When we are persecuted for our stance on abortion or for righteousness sake, it can be discouraging. Who doesn’t want to be liked and accepted? But we must not fear rocking the boat when our fellow human beings are drowning in the devil’s deceptive lies. There are millions of people who are broken and hurting, starving for the truth. They try to fill a void by giving themselves away sexually. When the consequences of their actions hit them, and a baby is created, they try desperately to find a way out. They end up covering up one sin with another by killing their child. The darkness around them gets thicker and harder to overcome, the longer and deeper they dive into perpetual sin. Continue reading →